One of the interesting things we are finding with Anitone horses is that they are doing so much better on their feeds that many people are now dropping back on the amount they are feeding and the horses are still doing brilliantly. One QLD family that compete at State and National level have said their big team of large horses are getting fed less three months down the track but look fantastic and are working accordingly. The dad said to me he has saved lots of money.!! One of our pony club members tried Anitone last year as an attempt to get some condition and bloom on their off the track TB. He was on a large feed with all sorts of quality additives, all designed to add weight. He was not really progressing but after two weeks on Anitone the weight started to pile on and he looked great. So much so that the farm he agists on put the whole farm on it. I saw the horse three months later and he looked like a warm blood and his coat was glowing!! I watched him in his lesson in the arena and he was so naughty! He did a fart and a buck and was full of himself. I went and asked them what he was getting fed to find he was on exactly the same feed as when he was in lighter condition. Being a pony club horse with a school aged rider he was getting worked regularly but not hard but he was getting a feed that would run a race horse. That was fine when he was putting muscle and condition on but the job was done now, with the help of a better gut and I urged them to simplify the feed and replace a smaller amount of energy source feed with ample quantities of good hay. They did that and bingo, a lovely big shiny well behaved horse who then took his rider to success at her first ODE. Race horse trainers report the same . The horses who don’t hold weight do much better, they can work them a bit harder now. The horses that are good doers, they can cut back their grain. There is a direct relationship between energy in and work loads and some of our Olympic eventers will tell you they have no problem feeding their 3* horses hay only or a no grain feed the night before a competition. As the trainer and custodian of your horse, it is important to understand and manage the relationship between exercise loads and feed. When a horse is a little depleted in condition, the energy and protein derived from feed will be directed to adding weight and building muscle if in work. Just like us. For this to happen most efficiently, the gut must be in great health , again, we are the same.. By improving gut health , we are improving the efficiency with which horses convert the nutrients in the feed and hay and grass. What they get out their diet is more beneficial to them. I say it is like you have slipped an extra dipper of feed. So when you get the results you are looking for in coat, condition etc. The extra nutrition needs to be taken into account. Work loads can increase. This is an advantage to horses traveling and performing at a top aerobic level. Especially those that were under stress in those conditions. However, most of us have our horses for pleasure and compete for pleasure as amateurs. That is when we need to monitor our feed levels and work loads remembering how improved gut health means more energy on the same amount of feed. If we don’t it’s like asking 4yo boys to be good in church after a big glass of raspberry cordial !!! If you would like to talk to me more about this feel free to ring me 0432554024 Cheers Maryann Maryann Thexton has been working with horses for over 30 years. As a young rider she competed in many disciplines and on graduation from school completed a 2 year full time diploma in horse husbandry and management. Working in the polo and racing/breeding industry for many years as well as competing, Maryann turned her hand to training 15 years ago and has trained 100’s of winners of 100’s of races. Mother of 3, her youngest daughter shares her passion and events at state and national level. Now with Anitone, Maryann is spending time with all different animal custodians and learning everyday.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 07:45:32 +0000
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